Striper Migration Map – April 12, 2019
Follow the Striper Migration
2019 Striper Migration Map
This year appears to be 1 or 2 weeks ahead of the slow start we experienced in 2018. Pre-spawn striped bass to 30 pounds have been moving into northern New Jersey. These fish are most likely Hudson stock, and they are taking advantage of the huge schools of bunker in the area. In Chesapeake Bay, the striper spawn is on in many of the rivers as surface water temperatures warm. Warming inshore waters have improved the bite for schoolie striped bass in the bays at the west end of Long Island and migratory schoolies are moving along the beaches. Follow along as we track the Striper Migration. You can help by contributing to our weekly map updates—simply share your striper fishing reports here, and on social media with tag #stripermigration.
Chesapeake Bay Striper Report
The Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources is reporting that the striped bass began spawning in the upper Choptank River in earnest and the pace will pick up in the next week or so as water temperatures come closer to the optimum 64.5 degrees. Surface water temperatures are close to 60 degrees but unfortunately salinities are extremely low due to recent runoff, which may cause spawning to occur in areas normally considered downriver of the traditional spawning areas. Striped bass should have begun spawning in the upper Nanticoke and Patuxent rivers this week, with the Potomac River not far behind. One good thing about all of the rainy weather this winter — the runoff caused an algae bloom in the upper sections of the spawning rivers in March, to be followed by a zooplankton bloom which feed on the algae. The zooplankton are essential food for the striped bass larvae.
There has been good catch-and-release fishing for striped bass in the Susquehanna Flats area for male striped bass ranging from 17 inches to 28 inches. There has been a limited amount of catch-and-release fishing for striped bass at the Bay Bridge. Medium-sized striped bass can be found suspended near bridge piers and concrete abutments. Jigging with large soft plastic jigs, often skirted, tends to be the most popular way to jig.There is a limited catch-and-release fishery going on along some of the steeper channel edges by those trolling planer boards and large barbless parachutes and bucktails dressed with large sassy shads. Others are spotting medium-sized striped bass along channel edges and finding success jigging to the suspended fish.
The Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant warm water discharge continues to be a big draw for light tackle jigging. The action there for large pre-spawn striped bass has picked up as the fish make a pit stop in the warm current to break the chill on their way up the bay. Large soft plastic jigs tend to be the favorite presentation but butterfly jigs also work well.
Out in the main stem of the bay along the steeper channel edges some have been trolling with large barbless parachutes and bucktails behind planer boards. This catch-and-release fishery for the large pre-spawn striped bass moving up the bay has been spotty at best.
Striped bass are being caught and released near the Route 90 Bridge this week. Most all are below the 28-inch minimum but there is plenty of action, and that is what most are looking for this time of the year. The fish are being caught by casting out slightly up-current and walking the jig along the bottom as it sweeps past in the current. A few striped bass have also been reported at the inlet.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone to take precautions to protect fish they catch-and-release, and follow the rules. The Maryland Natural Resources Police have issued a statement to help guide those fishing during the striped bass catch-and-release season.
Delaware Bay Striper Report
Fishermen are catching and releasing short rockfish (stripers) on small jigs and bait along the beaches and inside the Delaware Bay. Please consider using inline circle hooks when fishing bait.
New Jersey Striper Report
In southern New Jersey, the back bay striped bass bite continues to get better especially around the falling tides with water temperatures reaching the low 60’s. Most of south Jersey has had schoolie action with the bigger bass coming from the Delaware River. Schools of migrating bass have been moving into northern New Jersey waters, where there are big schools of bunker. This week, many prespawn fish in the 20-pound class moved into the area to stage before pushing into the Hudson River to spawn.
• Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
• Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
New York Striper Report
Striped bass are moving up the Hudson River. River Basin Sport Shop in Catskill has reported stripers being caught at Germantown and along the Greendale section of the river. Schoolie stripers are also begin caught in Catskill Creek.
Backwater areas on the West End of Long Island are holding some schoolie stripers, and the fish are getting more active with warming inshore water temperatures.
• Read the Long Island Fishing Report
Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report
Holdover striper fishing in the Housatonic River and in Connecticut River tributaries has been improving as waters warm and river herring arrive. The first migratory stripers could appear in Rhode Island by the end of next week!
• Read the Connecticut Fishing Report
• Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report
Cape Cod/ Massachusetts Striper Report
Holdover striped bass are active on Martha’s Vineyard and in some fresh and brackish waters connected to the Mystic and the Charles rivers. In the next 1 -2 weeks, migratory striped bass should arrive on the south side of Martha’s Vineyard and in Buzzards Bay!
7 on “Striper Migration Map – April 12, 2019”
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Phil fischer Vision has broken open in the entire base system of Raritan and Sandy Hook Bay in New Jersey. Fish up to 40 pounds have been hooked but these are mostly pre-spawn. The river system of the Shrewsbury navesink River have come to life also in New Jersey. Has many fish to keep her size have moved up into the rivers to chase the bunkers. There is a lot of life in the system right now. And we are waiting the Chesapeake Bay migration in about a month. But these fish will keep us busy for those few weeks in between.
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Al Sergio So in the NJ report we see 2 Stripers properly handled before release – held horizontally with the belly, and therefore internal organs. However, in the NY report we see 4 obviously undersized fish held vertically for the sake of the picture, thus dooming them whether released or not, as their internal organs have sagged towards the vent, an established fatal occurrence. Please, as a publication that has the forum to educate anglers, put forth a concerted effort to get out the word on proper handling to increase the likelihood of the fish surviving catch and release.
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Benny from Brooklyn Thank you, Al! I want to second that — OTW, please make it your mission to help educate anglers about how to handle any and all fish after they’re caught, so they can be released safely, with a chance to survive. Catch and release is pointless if fish are released only to swim off and die.
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stephen morley Heres the On The Water article on proper fish handling
https://www.onthewater.com/news/2013/01/23/stripers-future -
Jeremy Givens I actually came across a holdover striper while fishing in the charles river on April 14th, around 6 pm. I took it near the dam at the museum of science, measured 46 inches, my rapala scale got it at 38 lbs, took a while to haul in!
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Too easy Fishing at Great Kills fishing is great thanks for the heads up on how to handle pre spawn bass on my boat we will do the right thing. So our future fishsmen can enjoy what we are enjoying.
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Mike Hi like to knw when stripers coming up in kenebec river in Maine usually 2nd to 3rd week of May I’ve been told I’m not catching anything due to water cold An high an rough idea when they in river
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